Questions & Answers

What do terms ‘participatory’ and ‘non-participatory’ listening mean?

Participatory or interactive listening refers to face-to-face conversations and telephone calls, in which we are alternatively listening and speaking, and in which we have a chance to ask for clarification, repetition, or slower speech from our conversation partner.

Non-participatory or non interactive listening, on the other hand, refers to listening in which information goes only in one direction: from the input to the listener. Some non-interactive listening situations are: listening to the radio, TV, films, lectures, or sermons. In such situations we usually do not have the opportunity to ask for clarification or slower speech.